Which state is the most expensive to buy a house?

Hawaii and California consistently rank as the most expensive states for buying a house, with Hawaii often taking the top spot due to limited land, high demand, and imported costs, while California leads in sheer volume of expensive markets, driven by tech hubs and coastal allure, though some recent data points to California as #1 for median sale price, depending on the source. Other top contenders include Massachusetts, Washington, and Colorado, known for strong economies and desirable locations.

What is the most expensive state to buy a house in?

California is the most expensive state to buy a house in the U.S. High house prices – driven by a major supply shortage – paired with high monthly payments, gas costs, and taxes make it an expensive place to live. The state's median household income is also high but often insufficient to comfortably afford housing.

What are the top 10 most expensive states to live in?

Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California consistently rank as the top three most expensive states due to soaring housing costs, high taxes, and transportation expenses for goods, with New York, Alaska, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington also frequently appearing in the top 10 most costly states for living in 2025. 

What state has the most overpriced homes?

1. California

California is the most expensive state to buy a house in the U.S.

What is the cheapest state to buy a house in?

The cheapest states to buy a house consistently include West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa, offering median home prices well below the national average, with states like West Virginia and Mississippi often topping lists for affordability due to low median sale prices and overall lower cost of living.
 

I Tried Buying The Cheapest House In California

What are the 10 most affordable states?

The 10 most affordable states consistently include those in the South and Midwest, with Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Missouri, Iowa, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Kansas, often appearing at the top of affordability lists due to low housing, utility, and grocery costs, though rankings vary slightly by source. These states offer a low cost of living, making them attractive for retirees, families, and single earners seeking budget-friendly living. 

What US city is selling homes for $1?

Louisville, KY, is trying a new approach to neighborhood revival: selling $1 homes in blighted areas. The city hopes new owners will restore the properties and bring life back to these communities. The program, run by Louisville's Landbank Authority, focuses on putting vacant and abandoned homes back into use.

Which state is most unaffordable?

California is generally considered the most unaffordable state due to extremely high housing costs, driving up overall expenses, though Hawaii often leads in housing expense relative to income, and states like Montana also face severe affordability crises due to housing shortages and population influx. Rankings vary slightly depending on the metric (cost of living, housing cost vs. income, monthly bills), but California consistently ranks near the very bottom for affordability.
 

Which state has the nicest homes?

There's no single "best" state for houses, as it depends on your priorities (affordability, investment, luxury, lifestyle), but Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are top for overall market health; Florida & California for valuable markets; Montana & Nevada for investment potential; and states like Indiana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania for affordability, with each offering unique housing environments from coastal luxury to affordable family homes. 

Which U.S. city has the highest cost of living?

The U.S. city with the highest cost of living is consistently New York City, particularly Manhattan, often followed closely by San Francisco and San Jose, California, with Honolulu also ranking high due to imported goods, but NYC's housing and overall expenses place it at the top for 2025. High housing costs, especially rent, are the primary driver, pushing these major metropolitan areas far above the national average. 

What is the #1 best state to live in?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities, but recent studies from WalletHub (Aug 2025) and U.S. News (May 2025) frequently place Massachusetts, Idaho, New Jersey, and Utah at the top for overall quality of life, balancing strong economies, good education, healthcare, and low crime. Massachusetts excels in education/healthcare, while Idaho and Utah are praised for economic growth and stability, and New Hampshire for safety. 

What states have no state income tax?

As of 2025, there are nine states that don't collect any state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

What state has the worst cost of living?

The worst state for cost of living is consistently Hawaii, followed by high-cost states like California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, due to extremely high housing, grocery, and utility expenses driven by isolation, import reliance, and high demand, making it difficult to save money even with decent incomes. 

What is the best state to buy property in?

The "best" state to buy property depends on your goals (investment, retirement, family), but top contenders often cited for stability, affordability, or growth include Wyoming, Idaho, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Indiana, balancing factors like job growth, tax-friendliness, and strong housing demand, though some like Idaho and Florida face tight inventory despite growth. For pure affordability, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Iowa stand out, while tax-friendly options for retirement might include Georgia and Florida. 

Which 10 states have the highest cost of living?

Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland consistently rank as the top 5 most expensive states, driven by soaring housing costs, high taxes, and increased prices for daily goods, with other costly states often including Washington, New York, Connecticut, Colorado, and New Hampshire, due to unique regional factors like island isolation, tech hubs, or coastal living expenses. 

Is it better to buy or rent?

Buying vs. renting depends on your finances, lifestyle, and timeline; buying builds equity and offers control but involves high upfront costs and maintenance, while renting offers flexibility and fewer responsibilities but no equity gain, with current high rates often favoring renting in many areas, though long-term stability and tax benefits of buying remain attractive if you plan to stay put for several years. 

What salary do you need for a $400,000 house?

To afford a $400k house, you generally need an annual income between $90,000 and $135,000, though this varies by interest rates, down payment, and debt, with lenders often looking for housing costs under 28% of your gross income (28/36 rule). A lower income might suffice with a large down payment or higher interest, while more debt requires a higher income, potentially pushing the need to over $100k-$120k+ annually. 

What is the cheapest but safest state to live in?

For the best combination of cheap and safe, consider states like Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas, which consistently rank high in affordability (low housing, groceries, overall cost of living) while also offering manageable safety, with Vermont and New Hampshire often topping pure safety lists, though they are pricier. The ideal balance depends on whether you prioritize the lowest cost (Mississippi) or strong safety (Vermont), with Midwestern/Southern states generally offering lower expenses and Northern/New England states often leading in safety metrics. 

What states have no property tax?

Sadly for investors, the answer is no, there are no states without property tax. This is because property tax is a useful way for local governments to fund public services such as schools, fire and police departments, infrastructure and libraries. There is a caveat to this though.

What is the hardest US state to live in?

These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025:

• Arkansas.
• Alabama.
• Georgia.
• Louisiana.
• Utah.
• Indiana.
• Texas.
• Tennessee.

What are the top 3 cheapest states to live in?

4. Top 10 Cheapest States to Live in 2025

• Arkansas. Arkansas continues to be one of the most affordable states in the U.S., especially for those looking to buy property. ...
• Mississippi. Mississippi is another highly affordable state, particularly in terms of housing. ...
• Oklahoma. ...
• New Mexico. ...
• Missouri. ...
• Tennessee. ...
• Michigan. ...
• Texas.

What is the happiest state to live in?

According to WalletHub's 2025 study, Hawaii is the happiest state in the U.S., ranking first for its strong emotional/physical well-being, work environment, and community/environment factors, with residents showing high life satisfaction, low depression, and long life expectancy, followed by Maryland and Nebraska in the top three. 

Where is the cheapest place in the USA to buy a house?

The cheapest places to buy a house in the U.S. are generally found in the Midwest and South, with West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama frequently topping lists for low median home prices and high affordability ratios, though specific cities like Pittsburgh, PA, and Toledo, OH, offer particularly low entry points. Factors like lower property taxes, rural settings, and a slower job market contribute to these low costs, but it's essential to balance affordability with local income opportunities. 

Can I legally sell my house for $1?

Selling a house for $1 is legal but it can trigger significant tax implications. The difference between the fair market value and sale price is treated as a gift by the IRS.

What state has the most million dollar homes?

While many metropolitan areas have homes valued at $1 million or more, California is leading the pack.